ASEAN and the European Union (EU) agreed to intensify human rights cooperation and policy dialogues at a series of events during an ASEAN delegation’s visit to Belgium’s Brussels from October 19 to 25. According to the ASEAN Secretariat, the delegation included representatives of the Secretariat, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, the ASEAN Committee on Women, and the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Migrant Workers The EU and ASEAN held the first policy dialogue on human rights on October 19-20. It allowed for open and constructive exchanges on themes of common interest, including recent human rights developments in the EU and ASEAN; the rights of migrants, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons; interaction with civil society; corporate social responsibility; economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development. The ASEAN delegation had an exchange of views with members of the European Parliament and attended a seminar on "pan European human rights mechanisms" hosted by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the participation of representatives from the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. It also engaged with European businesses on corporate social responsibility and in other events. At the events, the two sides agreed to explore further regular dialogues on human rights issues of mutual interest. Meanwhile, some of the potential areas for bilateral and multilateral cooperation identified include corporate social responsibility and human rights, strengthening accessibility for persons with disabilities, child protection systems, gender mainstreaming, promoting economic rights of women, violence against women and children, rights of older persons and trafficking in persons.-VNA